Fallen: A Leopold Blake Thriller (A Private Investigator Series of Crime and Suspense Thrillers Book 5)

by Nick Stephenson

  “Can’t say for sure. But Sulphur is a commonly used in chemical weapons design. They mix the primary toxin with Sulphur prior to exposure.”

  Mary frowned. “And the sodium hydroxide?”

  “It’s apparently used as a neutralization compound,” said Ward, pointing at the screen. “According to the report, it can destroy certain chemical agents or render them inert.”

  “What kind of chemical agents?”

  “That’s where we’re a little stuck,” said Marshall. “It could be one of any number of weaponized nerve agents. That we know about.”

  Mary felt her stomach lurch. “Is there any chance these chemicals would be present if we weren’t dealing with dirty bombs?”

  Ward shook his head. “Unlikely.” He paused. “If you’d stumbled across a soap factory, I might be a little more optimistic. But based on what you found in there…”

  “Is there some kind of antidote?”

  “Without knowing the nerve agent’s exact composition, we’re stuck. If there are other bombs out there, and they go off somewhere as densely populated as New York City, thousands will be contaminated. Maybe more.”

  Mary took a deep breath and tried to focus. “So, we’re flying blind?”

  “It could be a lot worse,” said Marshall. “At least we know what to look for.”

  “In a city the size of New York?” said Mary. “Assuming the stockpile in New Jersey wasn’t the only one, there could be hundreds of bombs out there. Even with the whole of the NYPD on alert, we can’t possibly find them all. Not with all the ground we’d have to cover.”

  “We have to assume there are more,” said Marshall. “The New Jersey site was uncontaminated. The combination of intense heat and the sodium hydroxide removed any trace of whatever the hell was in those chemical containers. It was a self-destruct protocol. Meaning they were expendable.”

  Mary rubbed her temples. She could feel a headache coming on. “Okay,” she said, “let’s assume the worst. But that still doesn’t help us find the others. They could be hidden anywhere. How do you expect us to sweep the entire city?”

  Marshall and Ward glanced at each other.

  Mary sighed. “What? What am I missing here?”

  “There’s more,” said Ward. “As I thought, the list of FBI undercover aliases wasn’t the only thing Blake took from the bureau’s servers. The tech team in D.C. managed to figure it out.”

  “Let me guess,” said Mary. “Bad news?”

  “You could say that.” Marshall leaned forward in his chair. “Before Blake’s men left the building, they managed to gain access to our emergency protocol files. He managed to get his hands on first response and evacuation procedures for every major city in the United States.”

  Mary swore. “That means...”

  Ward nodded. “That Blake knows exactly how the emergency services are going to respond to any major threat. He knows the evacuation routes, the response protocols. Everything from hurricane warnings through to nuclear attacks and terrorist threats. He’ll be one step ahead.”

  “And that’s what he wanted you to find?” said Mary.

  “Maybe,” said Ward. “I guess it doesn’t matter. Even if we called the mayor right now, there’s no time. We wouldn’t be able to put another strategy in place.”

  Mary felt her brain start to spin. The pieces were slowly falling into place. First, Robert Blake orchestrated the takeover of Chemworks. Second, he used their research division to develop a chemical weapon that can’t be traced. Third, he took back control of his son’s company and used its resources to orchestrate the most devastating attack on US soil since 9/11.

  And New York City was just the beginning.

  “We can’t let this happen,” said Marshall.

  “It’s already happening.” Ward sighed. “So, if you’ve got any bright ideas...”

  Mary stood up. “There is one possible upside to this,” she said.

  Marshall looked up at her. “We’re all ears.”

  “If Blake is using the city’s emergency protocols to anticipate our response, we should be able to work it backward. Think about it – he’ll use those documents to pinpoint the locations that will do the most damage. Escape routes, bridges, tunnels... basically, any area that’s been mapped out as a potential way off the island.”

  “Meaning we know what he knows.”

  Mary grinned. “All we have to do is look at the protocols – locate the key evacuation points, the places most people will try to use to get away. That’s where he’ll be focusing, and that’s where we’ll start looking. I can have five hundred cops and a bomb squad ready to move out in less than two hours.”

  Ward and Marshall looked at each other again.

  Marshall said, “See, I told you it was a good idea to bring her along.” He flashed Mary a smile.

  “Make the call,” said Ward. “If we’re going to find these bastards, we’re going to need to move quickly.” He unhooked his laptop and headed for the door, almost tripping over one of the old case files littering the carpet. “Come on, you two. Let’s hustle.”

  “Yes, sir.” Mary followed Ward out the door, with Marshall close behind. She was careful not to stumble over any of the loose paper.

  Marshall asked, “Sir, did you find anything useful in the old reports?”

  The FBI director stepped out into the hall and headed back toward the reception area. He turned his head as he walked. “Nothing concrete,” he said, quickening his pace. “But something about those files doesn’t add up.”

  “Sir?”

  Ward swiped his keycard at a set of double doors and pushed through to another empty corridor. “We’ve got reports going back thirty years,” he said. “And there’s no mention of Blake, or any of his aliases, until more recently. Suddenly, there he is. Top of the Most Wanted List, a little over fifteen years ago. Then, again, no trace of him. Just reports of targets matching his description, coinciding with ongoing investigations. The guy just vanished.”

  “He had considerable resources at his disposal,” said Marshall. “Even if he wasn’t able to access his bank accounts, he must have had enough stashed away somewhere.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” said Ward. “But what I don’t understand, is how can a man go from a nobody to the FBI and CIA’s most wanted fugitive overnight? With no prior activity that we know of. No warning signs, no nothing. Not even a damn parking ticket.”

  Marshall shrugged. “Maybe he was just careful.”

  “Maybe. My gut’s telling me it doesn’t feel right. But none of that matters.” He stopped walking as they reached the next set of doors. “Whatever might have happened, our only concern now is to bring this asshole down.”

  Chapter 50

  THE NYPD HEADQUARTERS at 1 Police Plaza stood just a couple of blocks away, and Mary had insisted Ward and Marshall join her to brief Captain Oakes. The captain was in the middle of a meeting when they arrived, holed up in his office on the fourth floor with two dour-looking men in suits.

  Mary rapped on the glass door and stepped through. Oakes looked up, his chubby mustachioed face taking a moment to register what was going on. The two suits glared at her.

  “Jordan, this is not a good time,” said Oakes, his portly frame mostly hidden behind his desk.

  Mary ignored him. “Whatever this is,” she glanced at the two suits, “it can wait. We’ve got more important problems.”

  One of the captain’s visitors cleared his throat. “Ah, Sergeant Jordan, I presume?” He offered a disingenuous smile and stood up. “Speak of the devil. My name is Jarvis Hooper. This is Phillip Janson.”

  Mary eyed the two men, folding her arms. “I need a moment alone with the captain, gentlemen. If you wouldn’t mind.”

  Hooper glanced at Ward and Marshall, still standing in the doorway, then fixed his eyes back on Mary. He pulled out his I.D. and held it up. “We’re with Internal Affairs,” he said. “We’ve been hearing some interesting stories about you, Sergeant. We need to
speak with you about the incident in the Upper East Side.”

  “You mean, the bomb blast that nearly killed me?”

  “Yes. That’s the one.”

  Mary gritted her teeth. As a cop, she was used to dealing with the I.A., but Hooper’s timing couldn’t have been worse.

  “I’m concerned about your lack of concern for official protocol,” he continued. “Maybe we should sit down and figure this out.”

  “Like I said, not a good time.”

  Hooper smiled again. “I’m afraid it’s not a request, Sergeant.”

  Oakes sighed heavily. “Better just get it over with, Jordan.”

  Mary frowned. “Sir, this really isn’t –”

  “That’s an order, Jordan.”

  Ward stepped forward. “Listen, you need to postpone whatever this is for another time. We’ve got more important problems.”

  “Who the hell are you?” said Oakes, his mustache quivering slightly.

  “We spoke on the phone.” Ward fished out his own I.D. badge.

  Mary felt her spirits lift as she noticed Oakes’ jaw drop.

  “Uh, Director Ward…” the captain said. “Yes, uh, of course, sir. Sorry, I didn’t realize…”

  “Just get these men out of here.”

  Oakes glared at the two I.A. officers. “You heard the man.” He tilted his head toward the door. “We can pick this up another time.”

  Hooper opened his mouth to say something, but apparently didn’t think it was worth the effort. The I.A. officer fastened his suit jacket and nodded at his companion.

  “We’ll be in touch.”

  The two men left the office, closing the door behind them a little harder than was necessary. Marshall, Ward, and Mary waited until they had disappeared from view before taking the spare seats. Marshall remained standing.

  “So, uh… what’s the problem, sir?” Oakes asked, sitting up a little straighter.

  “I’ll cut to the chase, Captain,” said Ward. “We think there’s going to be a terrorist attack in Manhattan. We’ve found evidence that chemical weapons might be used.” He paused. “Worse of all, we have reason to believe the perpetrators have access to the city’s emergency evacuation procedures.”

  Oakes’ eyes bulged slightly.

  “Captain?”

  “Yes, uh…”

  Mary interjected, “Sir, we need to mobilize an explosives disposal unit and get our men on the ground actively searching for any signs of danger.”

  “What’s the response time for your bomb team?” asked Ward.

  Oakes ran his hands through his thinning hair. “Holy crap. This is…” He straightened up. “We can have the explosives team on the premises in less than fifteen minutes. Organizing a mass search might take a little longer.”

  Ward nodded. “Good. Make it happen. I want the team assembled and ready for briefing as soon as possible. We’ll need to pull in other departments on this, and you can count on FBI support. But with your men outnumbering ours several hundred to one, I think the NYPD can take the lead.”

  “I’ll have to get the commissioner on board, but…”

  “Leave Bill to me,” said Ward. “Find yourself a team leader and get this moving. The politics can wait.” He looked at Mary. “I can recommend Sergeant Jordan for the job. She’s the one who got us this far.”

  “Jordan?” Oakes stared at Mary, his eyes a little wider than usual. “She’s never led a team as large as this before.”

  “And she’s also the only one who knows what these people are capable of. She’s by far the best candidate.”

  Mary felt her cheeks tingle with embarrassment.

  “Fine.” Oakes took a deep breath. “You know what you’re doing, Jordan?”

  “Yes, sir,” said Mary. “I’ll speak to ESU and the bomb squad.” She stood up. “We’ll need a base of operations. I’d recommend getting the RTCC cleared out.”

  Oakes nodded. “Hackman won’t like it. If he gives you any grief, send him my way.”

  “Yes, sir.” Mary headed for the door.

  “Oh, and Jordan,” Oakes called out, “don’t go thinking the I.A. is finished with you. Do this by the book, or I’ll find someone else.”

  Mary gritted her teeth and nodded. She left the room, resisting the urge to slam the door behind her.

  Chapter 51

  FIVE A.M. ROLLED in slowly, and the sun wasn’t showing any signs of rising as Leopold, Jerome, and Isabel Kane approached the derelict apartment block.

  The Songjiang industrial neighborhood was empty, quiet. That part of town was largely in disuse, although Kane had insisted the Liugong bosses were holed up in an abandoned tenement building, just on the outskirts.

  Ahead, the soft orange glow of streetlamps blurred the skyline. The evening chill had intensified, and Leopold wished he had brought more substantial clothing. Jerome and Kane didn’t appear to have noticed the cold.

  “You all set, Blake?” Kane asked, as they took refuge behind a wall at the end of the street. Her breath fogged in front of her face.

  Leopold nodded. “I go up there, knock on the door, say your man Li Huan sent me. You’ll wait for the signal, then move in.” He paused. “Speaking of which, where the hell is your team?”

  “They’re already here.” She smiled and glanced off to the side.

  A shuffling noise, and Jerome reached for his gun. Kane put a hand out to stop him. Three figures emerged from the darkness, dressed in dark clothes and what looked like body armor. Each carried a submachine gun, as well as a holstered sidearm. They walked slowly toward Kane, muzzles down.

  “Gentlemen, I’d like to introduce Wang, Liu, and Chen.”

  The three men stayed still and quiet, hands still on their weapons.

  Leopold frowned. “Your team is three people?”

  “Plus me,” said Kane. “These men are Shanghai born and bred. They know the area better than anyone.”

  “Chinese nationals?”

  Kane smiled. “You weren’t the only one to come up with the recruitment office idea.”

  “You expect to get this done with just the five of us?”

  “This is my tactical assault team. We’re not exactly working on an unlimited budget here, so we make do. Five is plenty. We have superior weapons and the element of surprise.”

  Leopold sighed. “Let’s hope it’s enough.”

  “Just hold up your end and we’ll do the rest. When the time comes, we’ll move in fast. Make sure you keep your head down.”

  “And how exactly are you going to know when the time’s right?” said Leopold.

  “Li Huan will be there with you every step of the way. While we couldn’t bug you, we’ve got him set up with a wireless transmitter. He’ll let us know when the Dragon Head shows his face, and we’ll take them out. Just make sure you make a good impression.”

  “If Huan’s there already, what do you need me for?”

  Kane sighed. “I need intel on their operations. Until now, everything we’ve had on them is just a theory. Your job is to get me proof. If you can get past the guards, you’re obviously on the right track. So don’t screw this up.”

  “And what exactly am I supposed to be doing once they get me in there?”

  “Hell if I know,” said Kane. “But you can bet your ass it will have something to do with making them money. You know all about that, so I’m sure you’ll manage just fine.”

  “I’m touched.”

  “Don’t be. You’re here to do a job. I get what I need, and in return, you’ll get what you need. Believe me, you’re not exactly my number one choice, but beggars can’t be choosers.”

  Leopold grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment. And, assuming we get out of this alive, how exactly are you going to help?”

  “You want eyes on what your asshole of a father is doing,” said Kane. “I can do one better. I can get you on the ground, incognito. You said you don’t want to sit on your ass and let everyone else take the heat? I’ve got the resources to h
elp you make that happen. You get the chance to make up for all the mess you’ve caused.”

  “Details, please,” said Jerome. “Or I’m pulling the plug.”

  “This isn’t really the time, Jeeves,” said Kane.

  “Details.”

  Kane glared at him. Jerome held her gaze. The three men with the submachine guns shuffled uncomfortably.

  “Fine,” said Kane, eventually. “There’s an old air base about fifteen miles from the city limits. The CIA has access through one of its overseas shell corporations. Thanks to a hefty retainer, we can get in and out of Chinese airspace without anyone asking too many questions. I can get you on that plane, and back to US soil, and nobody would be any the wiser.”

  Leopold shook his head. “And the minute someone recognizes me, it’s all over. We came here to avoid that.”

  “It won’t matter,” said Kane. “I’ve got my contacts, remember? The shit’s already hit the fan. The FBI is gearing up for something major and I’ll bet the NYPD is kicking up a storm too. Whatever’s going to happen, it’s going to happen soon. If you want to make a difference you need to be there.”

  “And you’re going to help me? Forgive me if I don’t take your word for it.”

  Kane scowled. “My first responsibility is to my country. This isn’t about you. I’ve already had my orders to haul ass back home. This is the last chance we have to take down the Triads before I ship out. If you want in, you’re going to help me first.”

  “You already knew what was going on in New York?”

  Kane nodded. “If I’d told you that, we probably wouldn’t be here right now.” She grinned. “The FBI tried to keep us shut out as long as they could, but nothing stays a secret for long. It’s all hands on deck, so if you want a chance to redeem your sorry ass you’d better make this happen.” She nodded in the direction of the derelict apartment block. “You’ve got thirty minutes. Make it count.”

  Chapter 52

  LEOPOLD RESISTED THE urge to look back as he approached the building. It was an eight-story block of apartments and the lights were out. The walls were concrete, crumbling a little, covered in graffiti and crude drawings. Most of the windows were smashed in.